Two Fun Winter Activities

~by Charity

I had to write a paragraph for writing class at Master's Hand ( our home school enrichment program). So I thought I would share it with y'all.

Skiing VS. Sledding

        Skiing and Sledding have much in common, but they are also quite different. Both are winter activities, but sledding is a lot easier to master, while skiing is harder. When you ski, the skis are attached to your boots and preferably you go down the hill standing, whereas you are not attached to the sled and you ride down the hill sitting. Both skiing and sledding require a hill with snow on it, but the ski hill is usually quite bigger than a sledding hill. When it comes to having fun in the snow both are great ways to do that.

   

      ~Charity    

Fall: A Seasonal Collaboration

by Johanna and Lillian

Something I like about the season fall is how all the leaves turn their pretty colors and the weather starts to cool off. Lillian likes the season fall because she likes to play in leaf piles. She also likes to go to the pumpkin patch and Thanksgiving. I like Thanksgiving and going to get pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, too. We are planning on putting up a Thankful Tree, too. If any of you do not know what that is, it is usually a paper tree with paper leaves. You write something you are thankful for on a leaf and tape it to the tree. And that is why it is called a Thankful Tree. We should also be thankful to God in the hard times, and God says if we do, he will give us His strength. I hope you enjoy the fall season.

My Favorite Season

Hello,
This is Benjamin. I have never written on a blog before, but I'll give it my best. I couldn't think of anything to write about and my mom thought I should write about seasons, so here goes.

Seasons: I think my favorite season would probably be spring or summer. I like summer because we go swimming, hiking, camping, and go to other fun places. I like spring because all the flowers are blooming, and the grass is growing, and everything is so colorful. Also, my birthday is on March 7th, so that's exciting! Another thing I like about spring and summer is that we have a big yard, so me and my siblings play outside a lot when it's warmer. We like to play Frisbee, basketball, football, soccer, jump on the trampoline, bike, roller blade, go to parks, go swimming, and go to the mountains. Next summer I'm looking forward to maybe going to our friends' house up in Montana, and maybe visiting Yellowstone.

~Benjamin

The Blue Feather Escape, Available Now!

Some dear friends of ours have just released a book!! They kept it a secret for MONTHS, and just told us today that they are now in print! The book is called The Blue Feather Escape, and is set in 16th century England during the time of William Tyndale.

From the back cover:

“Katherine,” Chelsea whispered, “Are you sure it's safe for Mama and Papa to stay in England?”

When William Tyndale is caught and imprisoned, the Donaldson family find themselves in grave danger. Their Bible-smuggling efforts must be put to a halt. Abe, Jeanette, Chelsea, Davie, and Nina Donaldson are forced to leave their parents behind and flee to a mysterious castle in Germany. But their worries for their parents are soon overshadowed by problems of their own.

What is the strange secret the estate hides?

Why has the castle's master disappeared?

Who was the angry woman at the market?

Even as their world comes tumbling around their shoulders, the five children hold true to their faith and the only One who will never leave them. Even so, it's doubtful they will return to England, now, or ever.

The book is available by contacting the authors directly (if you know them), on Amazon, and also on iTunes. I've added the link below:

The Blue Feather Escape: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Feather-Escape-Jonathan-Stahnke

Be sure to check it out!!!

~Naomi

A Whole Week Spent With Friends!

Last week we had a family of nine from Montana stay with us. It was a lot of fun to see them again since we only see them about once a year. They came here so that the dad and two oldest boys could go to the Ellerslie Intensive. Since only three of them went to Ellerslie we got to spend a lot of time with the rest of the family. We played ultimate frisbee, did school, talked, played capture the frisbee (flag), the boys played chess, we took the oldest girl to dance with us, we played games, stayed up late, and generally had a ton of fun. At times it could be very loud and crowded with twenty-one people in the house seventeen of which were kids, but we didn't care. We were all having way to much fun to notice how loud it was. We were all very sad to see them leave and we can't wait until we see them again.

~Charity

A Memory from My Childhood

by Karina

Today I had an English assignment to write about an incident from my childhood. I decided to write about my sixth birthday, when I was given a surprise birthday party. So without further ado,

My Surprise 6^th Birthday Party

"Surprise!" I looked around the full room in stunned silence. Miss Sarah, Gram, Mama...I gave a small giggle because I simply didn't know what else to do. Everyone burst into laughter. It was a surprise birthday party! And not just any birthday party, a tea party--complete with fancy cut glass plates and teacups, special little deserts made of layered cookies and pudding, and flowers on the table. Mama had lovingly invited all the people who were special to me, and made it as elegant as could be. After the tea party, I sat in the living room wearing my birthday tiara (a present from Papa earlier that morning) and opened my gifts. The card in the gift from Gram had pretty flowers covering the front. The envelope read, "Miss Karina Grace."

"I thought that since this is such a fancy grown-up occasion that I had better write "Miss" on your card," she told me with a smile. I reached into the bag, and what do you think came out? It was another tiara! What a special birthday that was. It was one of my favorites. So many people came to celebrate with me and show me how much they loved me. And I still have both of those tiaras!

Filling Buckets

by Johanna

  We are doing a thing called bucket filling. Have any of you heard about it? It is an idea that everyone carries an invisible bucket. And you can fill other peoples' buckets, or you can dip out of other peoples' buckets by the things you say and do to others.

  For instance, you could fill a person's bucket by writing a note to someone or giving a hug. And you could dip by bullying or being mean. When you fill a person's bucket, it fills your bucket too. And when you fill someone else's bucket, it feels very good and happy inside.

  I like it. I also like filling people's buckets, and I hope you do too!

~Johanna

{Blog Manager's Note}: If you would like to learn more about bucket filling, check out some of the resources listed below!

Find more info, free resources, and a list of publications here: http://bucketfillers101.com/

Get the the book we have here: http://www.amazon.com/Filled-Bucket-Today-Guide-Happiness

Introducing the Myers Clan!

Hello dear friends and readers!

Our wonderful mother had a genius homeschooling idea this year - why not start a family blog to get the children writing more? Therefore, (drum roll, please) introducing The Story of Us, a Myers family blog! Since this blog is, in a way, a homeschool assignment, you will be hearing from all of the clan at some point or another. (Those of us who can write, anyway!) We will be posting about whatever strikes our fancy - funny stories, places we've been, scientific observations, crafty goodness, our favorite books, our latest project, family news, things we're excited about - anything really! Just so long as it includes writing!

Now, with that out of the way, on to introductions! 

~Naomi~

Age: 17
School Status: Graduated High School, June 2015
A Few of My Favorite Things: Reading, reading, and more reading! Sewing clothes, especially 50's dresses, doing hair, dressing up, violins, vintage fashion, authors Bodie and Brock Thoene, dancing for Jesus, mint and chocolate (combined, usually), my cowgirl hat, spending time with wonderful, like-minded friends, Lindor truffles, politics, learning about WWII, the colors blue and teal (though not necessarily together), road trips, curly hair, inspiring/fun/upbeat music, sweet babies, and being an oldest child and big sister.

~Karina~

Age: 15
School Status: 10th grade
A Few of My Favorite Things: Dancing, reading, photography, singing, making jewelry, making cards, sewing, art, (really just about anything creative or crafty), algebra (don't faint), newborn babies, vintage style, lace, "Come to Me" by Bethel Music, pearls, feeling elegant, chocolate, Louisa May Alcott, Psalm 27, mountains, the beauty of creation, passionate and inspiring music, wonderful friends, amazing family, and most of all, my loving Savior and Friend, Jesus.

~Caleb~

Age: 14
School Status: 8th grade
A Few of My Favorite Things: Figuring out how things work, playing outside, building things, observing and interacting with nature (plants, animals, reptiles, insects, etc.), gardening, listening to audiobooks (especially Narnia), skiing, football, tennis, upbeat music, and food. Lots of it. 

~Charity~

Age: 12
School Status: 7th grade
A Few of My Favorite Things: Reading, playing with/taking care of younger children (especially babies!), acting, dancing, Irish Elk Media, "Out of Hiding" by Stephanie Gretzinger, mountains, and spending time with friends.

~Benjamin~

Age: 10
School Status: 5th grade
A Few of My Favorite Things: Playing outside, going to the mountains, swimming, reading, playing chess, Chip Hilton books, Lego, football, seafood, the Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, and tobyMac.

~Johanna~

Age: 8
School Status: 3rd grade
A Few of My Favorite Things: Swimming, playing piano, spending time with my sisters, playing outside, Little House on the Prairie, the Chronicles of Narnia, All-of-a-Kind Family, Steven Curtis Chapman, for King &Country, writing, homeschool, the Von Trapp Children, football, cheesy/creamy foods.

~Samuel~

Age: 7
School Status: 2nd grade
A Few of My Favorite Things: Playing with Caleb, swimming, The Piano Guys, catching snakes, spying, agility courses on our playsets, going to Gramma and Grandpa Doc's house, soccer, football, basketball, going to the mountains, and eating fish.

~Seth~

Age: 5
School Status: Kindergarten
A Few of My Favorite Things: Playing outside, Lego, snuggling, sweet treats, watching movies, going to the mountains, lasagna, and swimming.

~Lillian~

Age: 3
School Status: Preschool
A Few of My Favorite Things: Lady Carliss, watching movies, pretty hair-do's, fancy dresses, painted toenails, pink and purple, doing puzzles, coloring printed pictures, dancing, and playing outside.

~Levi~

Age: 18 mos
School Status: Discovering life
A Few of My Favorite Things: My lamby, playing outside, reading books, making people laugh, feeling hair, and being cute. (Especially that.)

And there you have the Myers Clan! None of us perfect, but all of us so thankful that we get to share life with each other every day. 

Oh, and this is our theme song. Veggie-Tales, of course. :)

As long as we're together, everything is better! Wouldn't you agree?

~Naomi